Fire-proof floor or roof



(No Model.) T. A. LEE.

FIRE PROOF FLOOR OR ROOF.

No. Patented 001;. 13,1891.

W/nesses:

IINTTED STATES PATENT OEFTQE.

THOMAS A. LEE, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

FIRE-PROOFl FLOOR OR ROOF.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 461,029, dated. October 13, 1891.

Application filed December 20, I 890. Serial No. 375,334. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern: Referring to the drawing, A represents the Be it known that I, THOMAS A. LEE, a citiside wallof a buildingin which is built or laid zen of the United States, residing at Kansas a Wall-plate B, which plate projects horizon- City, in the county of Jackson and State of tally a suitable distance'to support the blocks 5 Missourhha invented certain newand useat one end of the courses. The other support 55 ful Improvements in Fire -.Proof Floors or for the blocks at the other end of the courses Roofs; and I do hereby declare that the folis represented by the paralell gir-ders O O', lowing,Y is a full, clear, and exact description upon the upper top flange of one of which of the same, reference being had to the acgirders O the end blocks are laid, as herein- 1o companying drawing', forming a part of this after described In narrow or ordinary build- 6o i specication. ings the girders O are not used, as the courses The object of my invention is, first, in fireor floor-blocks are constructed in length suf' proof door and roof construction to bind toiciently long to reach from one side wall to `efether in contiguity from one of the ends of the other side wall of the building.

15 the floor or roof carrying supports to the other Between the wall A and girder O is placed 65 ends thereof, the parallel courses of floorthe temporary horses or scaffoldingD D, upon blocks without the intervention of the ordi which is laid a temporary floor E, slightly nary I-beams withinthe floor or roof; second, cambered upon the upper surface and in a in tre-proof floor and roof construction in position at the ends, a slight distance below zo which the courses of floor-blocks are supthe line, horizontal with the top portion of 7o ported at the base by means of the tension the wall-plate B and the upper flange of the strength imparted from tension-rods in the gil-der C. base of the blocks to clamp the end blocks in The Hoor-blocks F F, which are used in my a course to the floor-carrying support, so as to construction of the floor, are ordinarily com- 2 5 prevent the floor from parting from the supuposed of hollow fire-proof material, preferably 75 port and to form a tie for binding the buildporous terra-cotta, and the ends of the blocks ing; or its walls together; third, to form a Verare eut at an angle or key-shaped to attain the tical dowel-jointbetween the sides of the conproper support from each other in the floor. tiguous courses of floor-blocks. Each hollow floor-block is formed with a ver- 3o My invention further consists in the novel tical inner Wallor partition fx, which extends 8o construction and combination of parts,which from the'inner surface of the upper wall to will first be fully described, and then spetheinnersurface of the lower walland is equicilically pointed out in the claims. distant from and parallel with the Outerver- In the drawing, the figure is a view in pertical sides of said block, also with two hori- 35 spective showing the supports for the respect- Zon tal inner walls or partitionsflandfg, which 85 ive end blocks of the courses forming the extend at right angles to the partition fx, and door, the courses of blocks extending-in length from both sides of said partition fx and to continuous from one` carrying-support to the the inside of the outside walls of the block. other carrying-support, the blocksof a course Thus the block is divided into several com- 4o breaking joints with the blocks in adjoining partments or hollows. Between the partition 9o courses, the temporary platform beneath all f3 and the base are the coln partments or holthe blocks iu the courses, the tension-rods in lows f4. In the outer surface at the base of the base of the courses of blocks, the vertical each block and upon one side is made a londowel-joint between contiguous sides of the gitudinal cavityf aud upon the othersidea 45 courses of blocks and the end blocks of a longitudinal recess or cavity f2. In the outer 95 course clamped to the Hoor-carrying supports, surface of the sides of each block are made and the courses of blocks linked together in the vertical grooves f f, which extend from contiguity continuous from one of the ends top to bottom of the block. The cavity, of the carrying-supports to the other ends of grooves, and recess are made in the blocks 5o the carrying-supports. while theyare in the process of manufacture. 10o

The blocks are received at the place for executing the work all formed, cut, and ready for use. l y' To impart the requisiter'tension strength to the floor, I employ the tension-rod G, the length of which is slightly in excess of the length of a course of the floor-blocks. Each end of the rod G is screw-threaded at g and provided with a washer I, and a nut g' fitted to the screw-threaded end g. This is my preferable Way for retaining the washer. In practice, however, I sometimes provide the rod G with an eye at a suitable distance from each end, into which, after the washers I I are placed upon the rod, a small pin is pushed, thus retaining` the washers upon the rod. The rod G while in manufacture is made with small projections g2, which are placed at short distances apart. These projections enable the cement to unite firmly to the rod and prevent the rod pulling loose orslipping through the cement. Around both ends of the rods G, against the inner side of the washers I I,is1

tances apart as to exactly correspond to the length of a certain number of iioor-blocks, In preparing to usually either three or four. execute a piece of work under my invention these rods are thus fully prepared with projections, nuts, washers, threads, and strands of wire in advance, and hence go into the hands of the work m au who executes the floor or roof work complete and ready to be laid in place in the cavity of a course of blocks.

To secure the end blocks of a course, and thereby the whole floor, to the iioor or roof carrying supports, as also to tie the building together, I employ the block-clampin g rods K and L, which are alike in effect but slightly different in shape, so as to be adaptable to the different kinds of carrying supports. These rods unite the iioor and supports or walls together by being made fast at one end within and at the inner end ofthe first or end block at each end of a course of blocks. Sometimes, however, it is desirable to make them of sufficient length to enable them to be made fast within and at the inner end of the block second in position from the ends. The other ends of the rods K and L are made fast to the carrying-supports or within the walls. Preferably these block-clamping rods occurin the third course from the end of the floor or roof first and afterward about in each sixth course throughout the length ot the- The wires are twisted or kinked slightly to cause them to remain at thefpoints where placed while the rod is being put in position.; The strands of wire are placed at such ds.

and the rod is placed in position at suitable height and intervals along the wall to come in line with .a course of floor-blocks. The other end of rod K is screw-threaded, and is .provided with washer le and nut k2.

Upon the girder C', directly opposite and in line for the same course of blocks as that opposite the rod K, is the other block-clamping rod L, upon one end of which is a hook Z, which end is hooked over -the upper flange of the girder C. The other end of the'rod L is screw-threaded and provided with a washer Z and nut Z2, the same as block-clamping rod K. These block-clamping rods occur as often as necessary to properly secure the iioor or roof to its carryingsupports andto form suitable ties for binding the building orthe walls of the building together.

In constructing the floor or roof after havine,` provided the carrying-supports, the tem porary scaffolding, and the block-clamping rods, as described, I first take one of the tension-rods already prepared and completed,as described, and place it horizontally in position next t0 the end wall ofthe building, (or

the wall at angle to the wall A,) and support4 the rod temporarily in position a slight distance above the respective carrying-supports B C. The free ends of the wire H, against lthe washer I, are then drawn or laid outwardly in position at right angles to the rod or transversely to theA course of blocks to be laid. Likewise all the otherstrands of wire along the rod are laid out. Oneof the floorblocks F is then spread'with mortar in the recess f2, which is to come in contact wit-h the tension-rod just laid, and upon the whole broad side which is to adjoin the end wall-of the building, and also upon the end which is to touch the washer and wire II at end of the tension-rod and the side wall ofthe building. The block is then set'upon the temporary scaffolding with the hollows toward wall A, and is then shoved or pressed firmly endwise against washer I, wire H, and wall A, and sidewise against the tension-rod G andthe end wall of the building, the flat bottom surface at the outer end resting directly upon carrying-support B. The tension-rod Gis received partly within the4 recess f2 and embedded in the cement. The cement which has been spread upon the side of the block, a part of which has entered the vertical grooves, is now pressed upon and around the tension-rod G and its projections, so that t-he tension-rod and the block, by means of the cement and by means of its attaching to the vertical grooves in the block and the projections on the tension-rod, are bonded and united together in such a manner as when the cement has become hardened prevents longitudinal movement one upon the other. The strand of wire II is then drawn straight across the inner end of the block, after which another block is taken, spread with the cement inthe same manner and is set and shoved in-place in the same manner, one end against the in- IOO IIO

ner end of the first block ands-aid strand of wire H, and one side against the tension-rod G and said end wall of the buildi-ng, care being taken to till the vertical joints between the ends of the blocks, so that the shell or wall portions of the second block bear fairly against the like portions of the rst block. A third block is then taken and laid in like manner, after which a fourth and fifth block is laid. A strand of wire H is drawn across the inner end of a block whenever the point at which a wire is located is reached. When the blocks set reach a point near the center ot' the floor, work is begun at the opposite end of the course and upon the carryingsupport C, and the same process of setting the blocks is followed until a point near the center is reached, when the course is completed by setting the key-shaped block in the center. The cavity f is thereby made continuous the whole length of the eourse,the cavity in each block registering one with another longitudinally. Likewise the recess or cavity f2 in each block registers longitudinally, and both recess f2 and cavity f" register with each other in adjacent courses. Care is taken that. the vertical joints between the contiguous ends oi' all the blocks are filled with cement and struck that the blocks may have a fair bearing endwise one against the other. I then takeV a second tension-rod G, which is complete with projections, washers, nuls, and strands of wire, and place it in the cavity j" in the base of the course of blocks just set and temporarilysupport itin said cavity, the washers I I bearing against the ends of the shell portion or vertical outer walls of the ends ofthe end blocks already set, and I at once twist around the rod G the free ends of the strand ol wire Il, that extends across the course from the previously-set tensionrod at the outer end of the end blocks, and also those between the ends of the inte rior blocks wherever occurring. Said second tension-rod G is thereby tied to the first course of blocks by a metal tie, and this tie isa part of the metal tie which is to bind the second course of blocks to the first course of blocks. I then draw or lay out at right angles to the course set the strands of wire ll from said second tension-rodin position, the same as in the first instance, ready to receive the next or second course of blocks and to project beyond it and its cavity, as in the first instance. I startthe second courseot blocks, respectively, upon the carrying-supports B and C and complete it in center with key-block, as in the first instance.

The length of the end block is such as to break joints with blocks in the first course. Before setting the end block F, I place and pack cement in the cavity fof the first course over and around the said second tension-rod G for a distance back from its end equal or more to the end block to be set in the second course. I then spread cement upon the end block upon its end which is to go against washer I, wire H, and wall A, and within its recess and upon its side which is to come in contact with said second tension-rod G and the first course of blocks, said cement upon the side being in quantity sufficient to enter the grooves in its side, together with those in the side of the blocks in the first course against which it is to lie when pressed into position. Cement is then placedin eavityf of first course over and around said second tension-rod G a distance equal or more to the length of another block, and a second block is spread with cementupon its end in the recessf2 and upon its whole side and in the grooves which are to adjoin the said second tension-rod and side of the first course of blocks. its ends against the inner end of t'he end block just set. It breaks joints with the blocks in the first course. The vertical dowel is made complete by thus bringing together in contact the grooved side of the two courses of blocks. he ccmenthardens on and around the projections of the said second tension-rod G, also in the grooves of the blocks` also between the grooves and the sides of the two courses of blocks thus brought into contact.

By means of the cement thus used between blocks so prepared and so set in courses and resting upon and so united to tension-rod so prepared, together with the metal tie, (the completion of which tying the courses together is hereinafter referred to.) the separate courses of blocks are bound together in contiguity and in a novel manner, and prevents the longitudinal movement of a single block or a course of blocks upon another, or (by reason of the cement joints, particularly in the cavity and recess) the deflection ot' a single block or a course of blocks one beneath the other, or the separation of a single block, or a course of blocks one from another.

In the cavity ot' the latter or second course I then lay a third tension-rod G, which has been prepared with projections, washers, nuts, and strands of wire, as before stated, and while supported in the cavityI draw the free ends of the strands of' wire I-I, and twist said ends around the end portion of the said rod G, inside the washers I I, and next the outer end of' the end blocks, and likewise twist the other wires that appear at the several intervals throughout the length of the said rod G, thereby tying the two courses of blocks together in contiguity. The metal tie uniting the several courses is thereby made complete. This process of tying the courses together and also the courses to each other is repeated throughout the fioor.

By means of this metal tie linking the courses together, one with the other continuously, the cement bond between the courses and between the tensionnod and the'courses is made secure and greatly strengthened. Hence there cannot be a separation between the courses or a movement either longitudinally or vertically of one course of blocks It is then shoved in position, one of IOO IIO

upon the other, or of one course of blocks upon the tension-rod. There can be no dislodgment of a block in the oor or deflection y of one portion beneath another, as often ocarches be- The end block F F when laid in the next or` third course receives the screw-threaded end of the clampingfrod K, which, as the block is shoved in place enters one of the bellows]c4 at one end of the block F and extends through the said hollow beyond the other end of said block and at the side of the vertical partition f X in the said block. Upon the screw-threaded end'of the rod K is then placed a Washer k', which rests 'against the outer portion of the vertical partition f of the block F, and the nut 7a2 is turned upon the rod against the washer 7c. Upon the girder C the screwthreaded end of the block-clamping rod L is inserted through the hollow]4 alongside of the partitionf of the end block F at the time Ythe same' is laid, which blockis in line'with the end blo'ck upon support B, into which block clam ping rod K has been received. Upon the screwthreaded end of the rod L is then fitted a washer, which bears upon the partition fX in said block, and a nut which bears against the washer, and in this manner the end blocks of a course are clamped to their supports. I then continue'setting blocks in this course in the same manner as in the other courses and complete the course, supply it with a tensioni-rod, bind the course fast to the cours'e previously set in-the same manner as the other courses were linked together. Thereby the Whole becomes clamped to the carrying-supports.

The cement which is placed between the side walls of the blocks and the courses enters the respective vertical grooves f, which register with one another in the courses, and a vertical dowel is formed which adheres to the sides of the blocks, and thereby increases the resistance to longitudinal strains, and by the breakin g of joints of the blocks in a course VAwith the blocks in adjoining courses I or the walls of the building` I am enabled to make use of the ordinary hollow-ware fireproof material placed in contiguity in each direction throughout thetloor or roof, and bind each separate piece to the other by lcetrient, dowel-joints, and metal ties, so that not a single piece or block can be dislodged, thereby eliminating the dangers attendant upon the means, methods, and systems of {ire-proof floor and roof construction now in use.

In my improved construction of oors and roofs there is no thrust, and therefore my floors and roofs may bev built perfectly flat or level on the under surface (or ceiling) or may be crowned, domed, or angle-shaped, and may be built in widths corresponding to the length of joists of every kind now in use-say fourteen, sixteen, or twenty feet wide.

In constructing my floors and roofs I prefer to use the ordinary hollow ware tire-proof material, such as porous terra cotta, but other materials may be used, such as manufactured blocks of straw, paper, cement, plaster,"&c.

The temporary floor is retained in place beneath the blocks until the cement between the blocks has hardened, when the Hoor is self-sustaining.

Heretofore fiat fire-proof floors have been formed with I-beam joists of steel or iron, which rest upon the carrying-supports and which were set at distances apart of about five feet and tied with rods, and between were filled with hollow blocks,usually in form of IOO fiat arches, the thrust being sustained bythe I-beams. Often the beams spring and allow the deflection of one arch beneath another and cause cracks in ceiling. Still more often arches and portions and single blocks are dislodged. In my improved method I dispense with the beams and the separate arches and so construct the blocks as to use them directly to sustain the weight of the tloor upon the carrying-support throughout thelength of the supports.

By constructing the blocks which are continuous in length from one carrying-support tothe aother carrying-support and then placing one tension-rod in one cavity in one side in the base of a course of blocks and then binding the courses together in contiguity by means of dowel-joints, metal ties, cement bonds, and tension-rods, as described, I am enabled to obtain the united compression and tension resistance of the courses of the blocks throughout the length and breadth of the floor or roo'f to strains from loads upon the floor or roof.

The blocks composing the iloor'or roof may be either square or arch-shaped.

The tension-rods andV binding-links are composed, preferably, of steel of high-tension strength; but wrought-iron or other material may be substituted.

Having fully described my invention, what I now claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isl in courses IIO l. In fire-proof lfloors and roofs composed of separate courses of hollow floor-blocks in cont-iguity, having a cavity in the base of each block and extending the length of and registering with each other in each course, the combination of a tension-rod cemented within the said registering cavities of a course of said blocks and a link connecting the said courses ol blocks with each other, substantially as described,

2. In tire-proof floors and roofs composed of separate courses of hollow hoor-blocks in con tiguity, having a cavity in the base of each block and extending the length of each course and registering with each other, the combination of a tension-rod'n cemented within the said registering cavities of adjacent courses of said blocks anda vertical dowel uniting the courses, substantially as described.

3. In tire-proof i'loors and roofs composed of separate courses of hollow floor-blocks in contiguity, having registering cavities in the base of the blocks and extending the length of each course, a tension-rod cemented within the said registering cavities of adjacent. courses of said blocks, suitable carrying-supports upon which the courses rest at each end, and the means, substantially as described, for uniting the contiguous sides of the adjacent courses, whereby the strength of one course is imparted to another course continuously throughout the length of the carrying-supports, substantially as described.

4. In fire-proof floors and roofs composed of separate courses of hollow floor-blocks having registering cavities in the base of the blocks extending the length of each course,

the combination of two adjacentcourses having meeting cavities, and a tension-rod cemented within the said meeting cavities, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. In tire-proof floors and roofs composed of separate courses of fire-proof blocks, having suitable supports for the end blocks in each course, and a cavity in each block cx;- tending the length of and registering with each other in each course, and a tension-rod cemented in the said registering cavities of the courses of said blocks, the combination, with the end blocks in said course of blocks, of clamping-rods connected with said supports at one endvand clamped against the inner end of said end blocks at the other end, substantially as described.

(i. In fire-proof iioors and roofs composed of separate courses of hollow lire-proof blocks, having partitions within said blocks and a cavity in the base of each block extending the length ot' cach course, and suitable end supports for the end blocks in each course, the combination, with said end supports and end blocks, of clamping-rods having one end connected with said supports and the other end screw-threaded and extending wit-hin the' hollow of said end blocks, and a clampingwasher upon the said end of said rod against the inner end ot said partition iu said end block, and a nut on said end of said rod, for the purpose described.

THOMAS A. LEE.

Vitnesses:

S. L. C. HAssoN, H. R. ToMLINsoN. 

